Brookhaven Marks Recovery Month With Narcan Training

Town officials, public safety personnel and community advocates marked National Recovery Month with a message that recovery is possible, and knowing how to respond to an opioid overdose can save a life.

Jason Byron of the Suffolk County Police Academy’s Emergency Medical Services Unit provided NARCAN training during the “Recovery Is Real — Restoring Every Aspect of Life for Everyone” event.

Participants learned how to recognize the signs of an opioid overdose and properly administer NARCAN, or naloxone, a medication used to rapidly reverse an opioid overdose.

“I really believe it does save lives,” Byron said. “Treat your NARCAN like a fire extinguisher. It’s there if you need it, and hopefully you’ll never have to use it.”

The training comes as Suffolk County continues to confront the impact of opioids and other illicit drugs, even as overdose deaths have declined in recent years.

Suffolk County recorded 321 total overdose deaths in 2024, down from 463 in 2023. The number fell again to 243 in 2025, according to Suffolk County Medical Examiner data.

Brookhaven has been particularly hard hit. The town accounted for 133 of the 320 opioid, novel psychoactive substance and other illicit-substance accidental overdose deaths for which town demographic information was reported in Suffolk County in 2024. That represents approximately 42% of the county total and was more than any other Suffolk County town.

Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico also presented proclamations recognizing International Overdose Awareness Day and September 2026 as National Recovery Month in the town.

“These important observances honor those we have lost, support families and loved ones, and recognize the strength of those in recovery,” Panico said.

Panico thanked Michelle Schindler, YMCA Family Services, the Town of Brookhaven Drug Prevention Coalition and community advocates for their continued work to prevent overdoses and support recovery.